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Extreme wildfires in the US could lead to long-term lung damage

THE western US remains besieged by an abnormally large cluster of forest fires. As New Scientist went to press, there were 64 large fires raging, according to the country’s National Interagency Fire Center. Montana alone had 25.

Western states remain at risk throughout this month, some into October. Oklahoma and Texas could see fires in December.

“Man-made climate change is making things incrementally hotter ,” says John Abatzoglou at the University of Idaho, so potential fuel dries out faster. He also says that “a legacy of fire suppression and fuel accumulation” has worsened the natural pattern of wildfires in the US, leading to more extreme fires.

Lung health charities warn that people exposed to smoke and other pollution are at higher risk of lung damage, with children and the elderly most at risk.